1. The Age of Absolutism

2. How? Absolutism-a period of European history
where almost all nations were ruled by
monarchs who had total control and power

3. Divine Right!
Divine Right Theory was the idea that God had chosen the monarch to rule.
Monarchs (and the people) believed it during this period.
If you question the king, you question God!
Kings become the nation. Louis XIV: “L'État, c'est moi!” (The state? That’s me!)

4. Strong Central Government
Efficient; decisions are made quickly and decisively, no debating.
Stability- The ruler stays the same, until he dies. There is a great deal of continuity
Great National Wealth – One leader w/ little resistance is able to gain a very large empire, a huge treasury & a vast army
Only one person decides policy for the whole country = not democratic = needs of the people go ignored
One person could do great damage

5. What were some of the events that led up to or “allowed” the Age of Absolutism?
1. Decline of feudalism in the Middle Ages -As the feudal lords lost power, the kings gained it.
2. Decline of the Catholic Church - As the Church’s influence weakened, kings consolidated their power. - Excommunication was no longer a threat. As a result of the Protestant Reformation- kings now had the option of converting to different denominations
3. Growth of the middle class- As merchants became a larger class, they pushed for the economic stability that an absolute monarch offered.

6. Elizabeth I Protestant Reformation
Henry VIII’s daughter (remember him?)
Defeated the Spanish Armada. “I too can command the wind, Sir!”
Built England up into a world power.

7. Philip II of Spain
1. His wealth came from… The Columbian Exchange 2. Made alliances through marriage. Even “proposed” to Elizabeth I after Mary’s death. 3. Very Catholic – Wanted all of Spain to defend the Reformation - eventually considers Elizabeth I of England (his former sister-in-law) his #1 enemy in the fight for religion 4. The defeat of the Spanish Armada was the beginning of the end for Spain 5. Spain went downhill after Philip’s reign -Spent too much money on war. -Treasures from the Americas had led Spain to neglect farming and commerce.
Anna of Austria

8. Great grandson of Philip II Declared himself “The Sun King”
Henry the IV to unite France converts to Catholicism
Great grandson of Philip II
Declared himself “The Sun King”
The absolute monarch! – never once called a meeting of the estates general!
“L’etat, c’est moi”
Builds Palace of Versailles. – this becomes his symbol of absolute power
Married to Marie Antoinette
Louis XIV of France

9. The Sun King’s Palace at Versailles

10. The Chapel at Versailles
The Hall of Mirrors
The King’s Bedroom
The Queen’s Bedroom

11. Louis XIV He ruled for 72 years (Stable)
He appointed middle-class citizens to his bureaucracy to help check the power of the church.
During his reign France became the cultural model for other countries, ballet became an important art form.
He built up the strongest military in Europe, funded, trained, and loyal to the central government.
He spent lavishly, in the arts and architecture. Ex. Palace of Versailles
He ignored the Estates General
He neglected the common people.
He revoked the Edict of Nantes
English and Dutch kings fought with him to try to keep a balance of power in Europe.
His wars left the treasury drained.

12. The Versailles Palace Today

13. A Day in the life of Louis XIV
“In France, nine-tenths of the people die of hunger, one-tenth of indigestion”
-Italian ambassador to Louis’ court

14. The Stewarts Screw things up/Parliament Prevails
Like her father, Henry the 8th, Elizabeth realized the importance of and worked closely with parliament to achieve her goals (p516)
When Elizabeth dies, she has no children so her successor is James Stewart (James I)
James is also the son of her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots who was beheaded for conspiring to kill her, but that is a story for another day)

15. Cromwell & the Puritans
Unlike the Tudors, James I and his son Charles I clash with Parliament, dissolving it at will and reinstating it when they need taxes levied for more $
Finally, in 1640 Parliament launches its own revolt, executes Charles’s chief ministers and declares that Parliament can’t be dissolved without its own consent...
English Civil War ensues - Cavaliers vs Roundheads
Charles is executed - which means...
Cromwell & the Puritans created political change until...

16. Cromwell dies and people are sick of the militaristic Puritan ways
Cromwell dies and people are sick of the militaristic Puritan ways. They invite Charles’ son Charles II back with cheering crowds.
Charles II does a good job of pleasing everyone – he re-established the Church of England, reopened theatres and taverns, worked with Parliament and hid his Catholic sympathies. All is well until...
Charles dies and his brother James II is not so good at hiding his Catholic feelings or working with Parliament...

17. They arrive with their army and James flees.
So Parliament invites James’ own daughter (another Mary) who is a Protestant and her husband, William to take the throne.
They arrive with their army and James flees.
This is known as The “Glorious Revolution”
Will and Mary have to sign the “English Bill of Rights” before being allowed to accept the crown.
England now has a “limited monarchy”, the House of Commons will control the Power of the Purse, basic rights like “habeas corpus” are outlined and everyone but Catholics are allowed religious freedom!
This is the early framework of a...???
Constitutional Government!

18. Rise of Austria and Prussia
The 30 Years War- starts local becomes general European War
Catholic Ferdinand Hapsburg attempts to suppress Protestant rebels in Prague. This results in a Protestant/Catholic war that starts in Germany but involves many nations
The Peace of Westphalia
Attempt at international peace
Leaves Germany fragmented
Severe Depopulation – as much as 1/3 population is lost

19. Austria
The Hapsburgs formed a strong Catholic union in Austria despite heavy losses during the 30 years war…
They had strong leadership under Maria Theresa,
Had 16 children!
Knew how & when to ask for help!

20. Frederick the Great of Prussia
After the Peace of Westphalia, while the Hapsburgs are unifying their Catholic lands, the Northern German princes are uniting under a Protestant and fierce Frederick William.
“Prussia is not a state which possesses an army, rather an army that possesses a state”.
Nevertheless, Frederick grows up to be a brilliant military leader and when Frederick II of Prussia seizes the Hapsburg province of Silisea this sparks the …

21. War of Austrian Succession

22. The Seven Years War These rivalries set the stage for…
Prussia vs Austria
Fighting over control of the Germanic states (Maria Theresa still wants to get Silesia back)
France vs Britain
Fighting over control of the new overseas empires
These rivalries set the stage for…
The Seven Years War

24. Isolation/Rise of Russia
The Mongols had kept Russia isolated from the rest of Europe
No Renaissance, no Age of Exploration 
Ivan the Terrible’s paranoia didn’t help (secret police)
But it was the lack of a warm water port that was the most important obstacle to Russia’s modernization
Genghis Khan Kublai Khan

26. Peter the Great… Great Looking!!!
Traveled to the West to learn about Western ways.
Ruthlessly Modernizes Russia – forced many peasants into serfdom
Waged an unsuccessful war against the Ottomans in effort to get a Warm Water Port on the Black Sea…
Goes after the Swedish port on the Baltic instead and is successful
Builds St. Petersburg
“It is good to hear subjects speaking truthfully and openly to their king”

27. “Window to the West”
St. Petersburg was nothing but a swamp when Peter won it from Sweden. But with hard work and the loss of many lives, Peter would get his window to the West and modernize Russia

29. -Came to Russia as a 15 year old German princess
Catherine the Great –
-Came to Russia as a 15 year old German princess
-Learned the language and won the hearts of the people.
-The military (and perhaps Catherine herself) deposed and murdered her mentally unstable husband.
-Was ruthless as well, even more peasants were forced into serfdom
-Partakes in the Partitions of Poland

30. Catherine and Russia get the eastern partitions